Paul Martin says generation of Aboriginal Canadians lost

A generation of Aboriginal Canadians have been lost because the Conservative government refused to follow through on the Kelowna Accord and provide more funding for education, former prime minister Paul Martin charged on Friday.

“When they walked away from Kelowna, they essentially said that if there is more money going into education, if there is going to be reform of the education system, it’s going to wait six years,” Martin told reporters after speaking at the Liberal Party’s biennial convention in Ottawa.

As prime minister, Martin made aboriginal issues a personal priority. In 2005, he struck the $5-billion Kelowna accord with provinces and aboriginal leaders. The agreement set out to improve the education, employment, health and living conditions of aboriginals.

But within two months, Martin lost power and Harper’s government didn’t carry through with the accord.

The issue was largely lost from sight until the situation in the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat began making headlines in October when a state of emergency was called for the third time in three years, prompting the Canadian Red Cross to become involved.

“The fact the federal government, the Conservative government walked away from Kelowna, walked away from providing the same funding for Aboriginal education as is provided for non-Aboriginal Canadians is nothing else but an act of discrimination against the youngest and the fastest segment of our population,” Martin said.

“Because they are the youngest, because they are the fastest growing, clearly the education they are provided is absolutely crucial to their success and to the country’s success.”

Martin also blasted the government for claiming it did not know about the situation in Attawapiskat, adding that there are more than 20 other communities in similar need and that the issue of Aboriginal communities being in crisis will not go away. “Not when you’re dealing with the youngest and the fastest growing segment of the population.”